Penny is off-kilter as Sheldon begins his campaign to win Penny's heart. For anyone who thinks the shower scene was OOC, too bad. My story, my rules. LOL! Just so you know, this Sheldon is a man in love. He knows what he wants, and he's out to get it. He's not about to let anything stand in his way.

Penny moved her wet clothes to the dryer and added a static sheet. She turned and found Missy watching her closely. Penny gave her a tiny smile. Missy stepped in and closed the door behind her. Then she walked over and put her arms around Penny's shoulders. Penny sobbed and clung to the brunette's shoulders.

For several minutes they stood there, Missy offering silent comfort, Penny releasing the tension inside her. Finally Penny eased back and grabbed a washcloth from her basket to dry her eyes. "What am I going to do, Missy?"

She leaned against the door. "Penny, how do you feel about my brother?"

Penny took a moment to really think about Sheldon. "I care about him. He's my friend. We used to be pretty close, I think. But these last 18 or 20 months we haven't spent much time together. I was busy trying to keep Leonard happy, and he was spending all of his time with Amy." The dryer dinged and Penny pulled the clothes out. The two women began folding.

"Sheldon says he loves me, Missy. But does he really? And for how long?" she asked quietly. "I'm not smart like he is. I'm not smart like any of them are. He'll get bored or frustrated with my inability to understand him or his work. We don't have anything in common. I annoy him all the time, often unintentionally. I have nothing to offer anyone at this point, Missy. I am an emotional and mental wreck."

"Penny, love doesn't require common interests or similar IQ points. It doesn't mean you two have to agree on everything." Missy set the folded clothes in the basket and pulled Penny close for another hug. "Shelly loves you. I don't doubt that. But if you aren't ready, then don't do it. I don't want either one of you hurt. There's no rush. Take your time. Don't feel pressured into something you aren't ready for."

Penny nodded and smiled slightly. "Sheldon's not the only one with brains in this family."

Missy laughed. "Don't be fooled, doll. I would love for you to fall in love with my brother and live happily ever after. I want you to be together because I think you two are good for each other. But what I want doesn't matter. This has to be something you two work out."

Penny nodded and picked up the basket. "Thanks, Missy." She opened the door and the two women headed out.

Sheldon walked down the aisle and looked over the selection of confections. He needed to find something special. Something Penny would love.

"Sheldon Cooper?"

He looked up and grimaced. "Hello Reverend and Mrs. Hill."

Mrs. Hill smiled widely, while her husband regarded Sheldon with a bit of apprehension. "Mary mentioned you were visiting. Will we see you at the service tonight?"

Sheldon sighed. "Yes. Mommy insists I attend whenever I am in town."

Reverend Hill looked pained by Sheldon's obvious disdain. Mrs. Hill continued to smile. "Are you looking for a gift for Mary?"

Sheldon shook his head. "No. I am attempting to procure a gift for a friend."

"That lovely young lady staying with your grandmother? Penny?"

Sheldon nodded with a blush. "Yes. Penny and I have been friends for many years. I am searching for an appropriate gift to symbolize my romantic interest."

Mrs. Hill placed a hand over her bosom. "My dear boy, these won't do at all," she said gesturing to the boxes of chocolates. "No, what you want is an edible bouquet. I suggest one with chocolate dipped strawberries, pineapple hearts and berries. There's a little shop over by the Ben and Jerry's. It's called Twin Sisters Creations. That is what you need."

Sheldon placed the box he had been looking at back on the shelf. "Thank you, Mrs. Hill. I am very grateful for the suggestion."

Mrs. Hill patted his arm, ignoring his jerking twitch. "You are very welcome, dear. Good luck."

Sheldon nodded and said goodbye. He checked his watch. He should have enough time to get to the store and make his selection before his Mommy was finished at the grocery store.

Penny was just slipping on her shoes when the door opened up. She looked up to find Sheldon watching her. He leaned his shoulder against the door jamb, his hands in the pockets of his slacks. He looked so casual, so at home, that it was hard to reconcile this Sheldon with the man she thought she knew. He wasn't even dressed in a way she recognized. The slacks were from the suit she once helped him pick out. But he was wearing a light blue button up shirt, the top two buttons were undone. The sleeves were unbuttoned and rolled to just below his elbows. Even his hair was a bit mussed up. And his eyes…

Penny blushed and reached for the dress laid out on the bed. She slipped it over her head quickly and reached for the zipper. But Sheldon had his hand on it already. He slowly moved the pull tab up, while she held her hair out of the way. When he reached the top his hands fell from the zipper to her hips.

"You look lovely," he said softly. Then he placed a light kiss on top of her head and left the room.

Penny shuddered, her nerves tingling. What the hell was going on?! She looked at her reflection. Sheldon Cooper, the physicist, she could handle. Sheldon Cooper, the man, she was confused and overwhelmed by.

Not even for a new pair of Guiseppe Zanotti sling back pumps could Penny have told anyone what the church service was about. From the moment she got into Mary's car, she only noticed two things. Sheldon's hand and Sheldon's warmth. She noticed the warmth, because he was never more than a couple of inches away from her. She noticed his hand because he never released hers. Meemaw and Mary had the front seats in the car. Missy was on one side of her in the back and Sheldon was on the other. The instant she slid into the car, he took her hand in his. And he held on for the rest of the evening. All through the singing, all through the sermon, all through the prayers and back to the house. He even walked her and Meemaw to the porch. He kissed his grandmother's cheek and wished her a good night. Penny moved to follow her inside, but he held tight to her hand. Then he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. His hand released hers and rose to brush his knuckles down her cheek.

"Sweet dreams, Penny." Then he turned and walked back to the car. She slipped inside quickly, but couldn't help watching the car pull away.

"Are you okay, dear?" Meemaw asked with a smile.

Penny looked at her. "What in the world is going on, Meemaw? That is NOT the guy I know!"

Meemaw smiled. "He puts me in mind of his grandfather. My Henry was a stern man with most people. Stand-offish, reserved, even a bit cold. But with me he was a whole other man. Soft, tender, loving. He was forever burying his nose in my hair, or kissing me under the ear. That's the Lee men for you. Closet romantics, each and every one of them."

Meemaw sat down on the rocker and motioned Penny over to the ottoman beside her. "Penny, dear, I'll be honest. For many years, I thought Sheldon was missing something. Some vital part of his personality. I always thought that being so smart, his emotions never got a chance to grow and develop correctly." She patted Penny's arm. "I am delighted to find I was wrong. It just took the right woman to bring it out in him. What you are seeing now, is not Sheldon Lee Cooper, the boy genius, and socially obtuse scientist. No, this is Sheldon Lee Cooper, a man in love."

Penny leaned over and laid her head on Meemaw's lap. "I'm scared, Meemaw. I don't have the best track record with relationships. What do I have to offer a guy like Sheldon? I can't keep his interest. He'll get tired of me, and then I won't even have his friendship."

Caroline Lee's heart was breaking for the pretty little girl she had come to love. She had no confidence in herself. Meemaw wished there was some magic words to fix that, but there wasn't. Her grandson was fighting an uphill battle. Meemaw rubbed Penny's back soothingly.

"Take a bit of advice from an old woman who has seen just about everything. You may or may not regret the things you do. But you will always regret the ones you are too scared to attempt."